Suellen Nicholson

East Timor – confirmatory testing for Hepatitis B using dried blood spots

As a World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Centre for Viral Hepatitis Suellen’s group is involved in the development and evaluation of a laboratory method for hepatitis B virus confirmation using dried blood spot filter paper testing as an alternative method to venous blood collection. This method is to be used in a study in the Western Pacific region in collaboration with the Australasian Society for HIV Medicine (ASHM).

HIV confirmatory test – review of result interpretative criteria.

As the Victorian State HIV Reference Laboratory, Suellen’s group is involved in an Australia wide review, coordinated by the National Reference Laboratory, to look at HIV confirmatory test result interpretative criteria in relation to the new Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) In-vitro Diagnostics guidelines implemented 30 June 2015.

HIV point of care testing – review of HIV seroconverter patients

With increased pressure for healthcare providers to carry out point of care (POC) rapid diagnostic testing, in particular for Human Immunodeficiency virus (HIV), Suellen’s group is involved in a study with Melbourne Sexual Health Centre to review HIV seroconverter patients in the context of POC testing versus fourth generation combination HIV antigen/antibody tests, reviewing the differences in assay sensitivity and specificity.

Web based submission of Global Proficiency Panel results for Measles and Rubella

Part of VIDRL’s role as a WHO Western Pacific Regional Reference Laboratory for Measles and Rubella is to prepare and distribute a 'Global Proficiency Panel for Measles and Rubella' annually to approximately 250 laboratories worldwide, and to collate and report the results. Suellen’s group has developed and is in the process of implementing a new web based method for laboratories to report their results back.

Defence Science and Technology Organisation – endemic disease surveillance project

This is a collaborative study with Defence Science and Technology Organisation to determine the prevalence of disease in travellers returning from sub-tropical and tropical areas nationally and within the region. Suellen’s group’s role is to perform serological testing for seven different arboviruses. Arboviruses are spread by the bite of infected arthropods, the main vector of which is the mosquito.